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Cole gets HR help, pitches Pirates past Cubs

It is the time of the season when rookie pitchers are fading or even being shut down for the year. Yet Gerrit Cole seems to be just getting started.

Cole pitched seven strong innings and got home run help from Marlon Byrd and Jose Tabata, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Chicago Cubs 2-1 Saturday night.

The Pirates have won five of six and moved into a first-place tie in the NL Central with St. Louis, which lost to Seattle 4-1.

Cole (8-7) gave up one run and five hits. The 23-year-old Cole has been outstanding in his last six starts, going 3-2 with a 2.29 ERA with 35 strikeouts and nine walks.

"I don't really have any answer," Cole said about staying strong into mid-September. "I'm just staying with my routine and chucking it as long as I can every time I get the ball."

"You never know where surprises are going to come from," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "You didn't know where he was going to be able to take you this season but his actions are speaking loud and clear."

Tony Watson pitched the eighth and Mark Melancon worked the ninth to finish off the five-hitter and earn his 15th save in 17 chances.

Byrd hit a solo home run off James Russell (1-6) in the seventh to put Pittsburgh ahead 2-1. It was Byrd's 23rd home run of the season and second in 17 games since being acquired Aug. 27 from the New York Mets in a trade. He is hitting .323 for the Pirates.

"It's a blast," Byrd said. "To come here where we're selling games out, the whole town is excited, you have the whole thing of wiping out the streak of 20 (consecutive) losing seasons -- it's just been amazing experience so far. What will be more amazing, though, is playing in October."

Chicago got its run on Nate Schierholtz's RBI double to right-center in the first inning. Anthony Rizzo also tried to score on the hit from first base, but was thrown out on a strong relay from Byrd to second baseman Neil Walker to the plate."That whole play was perfectly executed," Cole said.

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